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Veszelyite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Veszelyite
Formula:
(Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3 · 2H2O
Colour:
Green, blue, greenish blue, dark blue; greenish blue in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.4
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Ágost Veszely (1821-1879), a Hungarian mining engineer who discovered the species.
Type Locality:
The P analogue of arsenoveszelyite.
A rare secondary Cu-Zn mineral occurring in the oxidised zones of base metal deposits.
A rare secondary Cu-Zn mineral occurring in the oxidised zones of base metal deposits.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4176
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4176:4
IMA Classification of Veszelyite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Cu2+,Zn2+)2Zn2+(PO4)(OH)3·2H2O
First published:
1874
Classification of Veszelyite
8.DE.30
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 3:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 3:1
42.2.3.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO4)Zq·xH2O
19.6.5
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Vsz | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Veszelyite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Green, blue, greenish blue, dark blue; greenish blue in transmitted light
Streak:
Green to white
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {001} and {110}.
On {001} and {110}.
Density:
3.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.42 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Veszelyite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.618 - 1.64 nβ = 1.622 - 1.658 nγ = 1.658 - 1.695
2V:
Measured: 35° to 71°, Calculated: 38° to 72°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.040 - 0.055
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Z = Blue
X = Greenish blue
X = Greenish blue
Chemistry of Veszelyite
Mindat Formula:
(Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3 · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Veszelyite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.8275 Å, b = 10.2244 Å, c = 7.5322 Å
β = 103.18°
β = 103.18°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.961 : 1 : 0.737
Unit Cell V:
736.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic {100}, elongated [001]. Commonly pseudo-octahedral {100} and {011}, modified by {001}, {110}, {111} and {121}; also as granular aggregates.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019907 | Veszelyite | Danisi R M, Armbruster T, Lazic B, Vulic P, Kaindl R, Dimitrijevic R, Kahlenberg V (2013) In situ dehydration behavior of veszelyite (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3*2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray study American Mineralogist 98 1261-1269 | 2013 | Zdravo Vrelo, near Kresevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000408 | Veszelyite | Ghose S, Leo S R, Wan C (1974) Structural chemistry of copper and zinc minerals. Part I. Veszelyite, (Cu,Zn)2ZnPO4(OH)3*2H2O: A novel type of sheet structure and crystal chemistry of copper-zinc substitution American Mineralogist 59 573-581 |  | 1974 | Arakawa mine, Japan | 0 | 293 |
| 0019906 | Veszelyite | Danisi R M, Armbruster T, Lazic B, Vulic P, Kaindl R, Dimitrijevic R, Kahlenberg V (2013) In situ dehydration behavior of veszelyite (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3*2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray study American Mineralogist 98 1261-1269 | 2013 | Zdravo Vrelo, near Kresevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 0 | 173 | |
| 0019908 | Veszelyite | Danisi R M, Armbruster T, Lazic B, Vulic P, Kaindl R, Dimitrijevic R, Kahlenberg V (2013) In situ dehydration behavior of veszelyite (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)(OH)3*2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray study American Mineralogist 98 1261-1269 | 2013 | Zdravo Vrelo, near Kresevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | 0 | 473 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.642 Å | (100) |
| 6.96 Å | (40) |
| 4.489 Å | (30) |
| 3.482 Å | (30) |
| 2.771 Å | (30) |
| 7.29 Å | (25) |
| 2.956 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Oxidised zones of base metal deposits.
Type Occurrence of Veszelyite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
None
Synonyms of Veszelyite
Other Language Names for Veszelyite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 294 photos of Veszelyite associated with Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| 56 photos of Veszelyite associated with Cuprodongchuanite | Pb4CuZn2(PO4)4(OH)2 |
| 53 photos of Veszelyite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 38 photos of Veszelyite associated with Dongchuanite Group | A4 ⅥBⅣB2[(T1)O4]2[(T2)O4]2Y2 |
| 37 photos of Veszelyite associated with |
Black Pine Mine, Philipsburg Mining District, Granite County, Montana, USA